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burned ominous； a dull bleared disc of red； but all Mordor lay about the Mountain like a dead land；
silent； shadow…folded； waiting for some dreadful stroke。
Sam came to the gaping mouth and peered in。 It was dark and hot； and a deep rumbling shook
the air。 'Frodo！ Master！' he called。 There was no answer。 For a moment he stood； his heart beating
with wild fears； and then he plunged in。 A shadow followed him。
At first he could see nothing。 In his great need he drew out once more the phial of Galadriel； but
it was pale and cold in his trembling hand and threw no light into that stifling dark。 He was e to
the heart of the realm of Sauron and the forges of his ancient might； greatest in Middle…earth； all
other powers were here subdued。 Fearfully he took a few uncertain steps in the dark； and then all at
once there came a flash of red that leaped upward； and smote the high black roof。 Then Sam saw
that he was in a long cave or tunnel that bored into the Mountain's smoking cone。 But only a short
way ahead its floor and the walls on either side were cloven by a great fissure； out of which the red
glare came； now leaping up； now dying down into darkness； and all the while far below there was a
rumour and a trouble as of great engines throbbing and labouring。
The light sprang up again； and there on the brink of the chasm； at the very Crack of Doom； stood
Frodo； black against the glare； tense； erect； but still as if he had been turned to stone。
'Master！' cried Sam。
Then Frodo stirred and spoke with a clear voice； indeed with a voice clearer and more powerful
than Sam had ever heard him use； and it rose above the throb and turmoil of Mount Doom； ringing
in the roof and walls。
'I have e；' he said。 'But I do not choose now to do what I came to do。 I will not do this deed。
The Ring is mine！' And suddenly； as he set it on his finger； he vanished from Sam's sight。 Sam
gasped； but he had no chance to cry out； for at that moment many things happened。
Something struck Sam violently in the back； his legs were knocked from under him and he was
flung aside； striking his head against the stony floor； as a dark shape sprang over him。 He lay still
and for a moment all went black。
And far away； as Frodo put on the Ring and claimed it for his own； even in Sammath Naur the
very heart of his realm； the Power in Barad…d？r was shaken； and the Tower trembled from its
foundations to its proud and bitter crown。 The Dark Lord was suddenly aware of him； and his Eye
piercing all shadows looked across the plain to the door that he had made； and the magnitude of his
own folly was revealed to him in a blinding flash； and all the devices of his enemies were at last
laid bare。 Then his wrath blazed in consuming flame； but his fear rose like a vast black smoke to
choke him。 For he knew his deadly peril and the thread upon which his doom now hung。
From all his policies and webs of fear and treachery； from all his stratagems and wars his mind
shook free； and throughout his realm a tremor ran； his slaves quailed； and his armies halted； and his
captains suddenly steerless； bereft of will； wavered and despaired。 For they were forgotten。 The
whole mind and purpose of the Power that wielded them was now bent with overwhelming force
upon the Mountain。 At his summons； wheeling with a rending cry； in a last desperate race there
flew； faster than the winds； the Nazg？l the Ringwraiths； and with a storm of wings they hurtled
southwards to Mount Doom。
Sam got up。 He was dazed； and blood streaming from his head dripped in his eyes。 He groped
forward； and then he saw a strange and terrible thing。 Gollum on the edge of the abyss was fighting
like a mad thing with an unseen foe。 To and fro he swayed； now so near the brink that almost he
tumbled in； now dragging back； falling to the ground； rising； and falling again。 And all the while he
hissed but spoke no words。
The fires below awoke in anger； the red light blazed； and all the cavern was filled with a great
glare and heat。 Suddenly Sam saw Gollum's long hands draw upwards to his mouth； his white fangs
gleamed； and then snapped as they bit。 Frodo gave a cry； and there he was； fallen upon his knees at
the chasm's edge。 But Gollum； dancing like a mad thing； held aloft the ring； a finger still thrust
within its circle。 It shone now as if verily it was wrought of living fire。
'Precious； precious； precious！' Gollum cried。 'My Precious！ O my Precious！' And with that； even
as his eyes were lifted up to gloat on his prize； he stepped too far； toppled； wavered for a moment
on the brink； and then with a shriek he fell。 Out of the depths came his last wail _Precious_； and he
was gone。
There was a roar and a great confusion of noise。 Fires leaped up and licked the roof。 The
throbbing grew to a great tumult； and the Mountain shook。 Sam ran to Frodo and picked him up and
carried him。 out to the door。 And there upon the dark threshold of the Sammath Naur； high above
the plains of Mordor； such wonder and terror came on him that he stood still forgetting all else； and
gazed as one turned to stone。
A brief vision he had of swirling cloud； and in the midst of it towers and battlements； tall as hills；
founded upon a mighty mountain…throne above immeasurable pits； great courts and dungeons；
eyeless prisons sheer as cliffs； and gaping gates of steel and adamant： and then all passed。 Towers
fell and mountains slid； walls crumbled and melted； crashing down； vast spires of smoke and
spouting steams went billowing up； up； until they toppled like an overwhelming wave； and its wild
crest curled and came foaming down upon the land。 And then at last over the miles between there
came a rumble； rising to a deafening crash and roar； the earth shook； the plain heaved and cracked；
and Orodruin reeled。 Fire belched from its riven summit。 The skies burst into thunder seared with
lightning。 Down like lashing whips fell a torrent of black rain。 And into the heart of the storm； with
a cry that pierced all other sounds； tearing the clouds asunder； the Nazg？l came； shooting like
flaming bolts； as caught in the fiery ruin of hill and sky they crackled； withered； and went out。
'Well； this is the end； Sam Gamgee；' said a voice by his side。 And there was Frodo； pale and
worn； and yet himself again； and in his eyes there was peace now； neither strain of will； nor
madness； nor any fear。 His burden was taken away。 There was the dear master of the sweet days in
the Shire。
'Master！' cried Sam。 and fell upon his knees。 In all that ruin of the world for the moment he felt
only joy； great joy。 The burden was gone。 His master had been saved； he was himself again； he was
free。 And then Sam caught sight of the maimed and bleeding hand。
'Your poor hand！' he said。 'And I have nothing to bind it with； or fort it。 I would have spared
him a whole hand of mine rather。 But he's gone now beyond recall； gone for ever。'
'Yes；' said Frodo。 'But do you remember Gandalf's words： _Even Gollum may have something
yet to do？_ But for him； Sam； I could not have destroyed the Ring。 The Quest would have been in
vain； even at the bitter end。 So let us forgive him！ For the Quest is achieved； and now all is over。 I
am glad you are here with me。 Here at the end of all things； Sam。'
_Chapter 4_
The Field of Cormallen
All about the hills the hosts of Mordor raged。 The Captains of the West were foundering in a
gathering sea。 The sun gleamed red； and under the wings of the Nazg？l the shadows of death fell
dark upon the earth。 Aragorn stood beneath his banner； silent and stern； as one lost in thought of
things long past or far away； but his eyes gleamed like stars that shine the brighter as the night
deepens。 Upon the hill…top stood Gandalf； and he was white and cold and no shadow fell on him。
The onslaught of Mordor broke like a wave on the beleaguered hills； voices roaring like a tide amid
the wreck and crash of arms。
As if to his eyes some sudden vision had been given； Gandalf stirred； and he turned； looking
back north where the skies were pale and clear。 Then he lifted up his hands and cried in a loud
voice ringing above the din： _The Eagles are ing！_ And many voices answered crying： _The
Eagles are ing！ The Eagles are ing！_ The hosts of Mordor looked up and wondered what
this sign might mean。
There came Gwaihir the Windlord； and Landroval his brother； greatest of all the Eagles of the
North； mightiest of the descendants of old Thorondor； who built his eyries in the inaccessible peaks
of the Encircling Mountains when Middle…earth was young。 Behind them in long swift lines came
all their vassals from the northern mountains； speeding on a gathering wind。 Straight down upon
the Nazg？l they bore； stooping suddenly out of the high airs； and the rush of their wide wings as
they passed over was like a gale。
But the Nazg？l turned and fled； and vanished into Mordor's shadows； hearing a sudden terrible
call out of the Dark Tower； and even at that moment all the hosts of Mordor trembled； doubt
clutched the